"The outsider is back. ”

Entering Yugu Street, the people who lived on one street all greeted Xu Doulian.

Everyone who greeted them would look at Wen Xiuying, who was following Xu Doulian, and said in their hearts: "Who is this woman, she looks very peugeot, is Xu Yuanwailang finally going to marry a wife?"

However, they didn't dare to ask Xu Doulian directly, although Xu Doulian did not live in the official residence of the Ministry of Industry arranged by the imperial court, but lived in his own house, but he was always a six-grade official of the Ministry of Industry, and it was not something they could encroach on.

Xu Doulian nodded all the way, and chatted with the neighbors who were more familiar with him, but his footsteps did not stop, and he soon arrived in front of his house.

"Outsider. The guard at the door saluted, ran to the door quickly, opened the door and shouted inside: "The outer man is back!"

With the shouts of the guards, the house also began to act, the servants quickly cleaned up the study and bedroom, and the butler greeted the door.

Xu Doulian walked in with Wen Xiuying, and the housekeeper was already waiting at the bottom of the stairs.

Pointing at Wen Xiuying, Xu Doulian said to the housekeeper: "This is Wen Xiuying Wen girl, I met by chance on the road, saying that I came to the city to beg for a living, didn't I say that there was one less cook in the house a few days ago, I brought her back, you can settle down." ”

After speaking, Xu Doulian pointed to the housekeeper and said to Wen Xiuying: "This is Xu Huai, the housekeeper of the house, he will teach you all the affairs of the house, you follow him." ”

"The little girl, Wen Xiuying, has seen Steward Xu. Wen Xiuying took the lead in saluting Xu Huai.

Xu Huai replied with a smile: "There is not so much red tape in the house, Miss Wen doesn't have to bow in everything, since you come to the house, you will slowly get used to it." ”

"Yes, please also ask Steward Xu to teach more. Wen Xiuying replied, this is considered a meeting between the two of them.

After a few polite words with Wen Xiuying, Xu Huai said to Xu Doulian: "The study and bedroom have been cleaned up, should the staff go to the study, or go back to the bedroom to rest?"

Xu Doulian said: "Go to the study, there are still some things that have not been done, the site for the ceremony will start to be built tomorrow, I will rest before the child's time, and I will go to the Ministry of Industry to coordinate things at the beginning of tomorrow, don't miss my time." ”

Xu Huai replied: "Yes, Xu Huai wrote it down." ”

"Hmm. Xu Dou responded, and walked to the study by himself.

Originally, Wen Xiuying wanted to go with her, but was stopped by Xu Huai: "Eh, Miss Wen, you can't disturb the staff when you go to the study to work, you come with me, I'll take you to familiarize yourself with some basic things first, arrange a place for you to live, and teach you well tomorrow." ”

In order not to arouse suspicion, Wen Xiuying had to stop and said: "It's the slave family who is reckless, thank you Steward Xu for reminding me, and I will have to trouble Steward Xu a lot in the future." ”

Xu Huai waved his hand and said, "It's not troublesome, let's go, let's go to your place of work first." ”

With that, Xu Huai turned around and led the way and walked in the direction of the kitchen.

Wen Xiuying glanced at the direction where Xu Doulian left, thought about her little Jiujiu in her heart, and followed Xu Huai to the kitchen.

"Our house, it's three entrances and two spans, and the staff outside the courtyard lives in the three courtyards, there is nothing special, so don't go to the three courtyards, don't disturb the staff outside the courts. The East Cross Courtyard is where we live, and your accommodation will also be arranged in the East Cross Courtyard. In the west courtyard is the kitchen, utility room, storeroom, etc., which is where you work. There is no special taboo in the staff outside the lang, but I don't like to waste, the most daily meal at home is breakfast, lunch will be eaten in the yamen of the Ministry of Industry, and dinner will go to the meridian building, so you basically do the most food for us servants. Xu Huai introduced the basic situation while leading the way in front.

Turning into the direction of the West Cross Courtyard, Xu Huai continued: "There are not many servants in the house, only four ordinary servants, five maids, an account room, a gatehouse, four guards, a cook, plus you and I are a total of eighteen people, so you don't have a lot of food to cook." ”

Wen Xiuying asked, "Why doesn't Wailang eat at home?"

Xu Huai replied: "There's no reason, it's just that you're used to it, if you can let the staff eat at home, that's not bad, at least we can save some expenses in the house, and we can send more money during the New Year." ”

Wen Xiuying thought back to the taste of the food in the Meridian Building for a while and said, "Is it better than the Meridian Building, it doesn't seem to be impossible." ”

Xu Huai glanced at Wen Xiuying unexpectedly and said with a smile: "Okay, then I'll leave it to you." ”

Pushing open the kitchen door and lighting the lamp, Xu Huai said: "This is the kitchen, you can familiarize yourself with the layout first." The breakfast time in the house is according to the time of the Yuanwailang, and you also heard that the Yuanwailang will go out to the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry tomorrow morning, so before the beginning of Yin, you have to start preparing breakfast. ”

Wen Xiuying asked: "That Wailang said that he has to deal with some affairs in the study tonight and will go to sleep before the second hour, so do you want to prepare some supper for Wailang?"

Xu Huai replied: "Yuanwailang doesn't have the habit of eating after the hour, so he usually drinks a cup of tea, takes a bath and sleeps, you don't need to prepare supper, you can rest early, and I will wake you up to prepare breakfast when it is ugly." ”

"Oh, I see. Wen Xiuying responded, but she already had a plan in her heart.

"Don't worry, our other cook is also a woman, and she will instruct you on what to cook. Okay, now I'll take you to the East Cross Courtyard to arrange a place for you to live, and I'll tell you something else when Wai Lang leaves the house tomorrow. Worried that Wen Xiuying would not be suitable, Xu Huai comforted her, then blew out the lights and walked in the direction of the east courtyard.

Entering the East Cross Courtyard, Xu Huai pointed to the first room and said, "This is the room where I live, you can come to me if you have anything." ”

Explain room by room, and go all the way to the innermost room, Xu Huai said: "There are still a few rooms left here, you can choose one by yourself, someone cleans it every day, you can live directly." ”

Wen Xiuying casually chose one and said, "Then here, thank you Steward Xu." ”

"Hehe, it's okay, okay, you can rest early, I'll call you tomorrow." After speaking, Xu Huai left first.

Wen Xiuying pushed open the door, lit the light with the fire on the table, and looked at the situation in the room.

It is indeed cleaned every day, it is very clean, the flowers in the house are fresh, and the quilt is obviously fresh.

Lying down on the bed and feeling the feeling of relaxation, Wen Xiuying said: "After entering the capital, it's better to be careful, don't use the heart charm first, and the province will be calmly seen by Shen Shen." ”

Suddenly, Wen Xiuying heard something moving in the room, held her breath and concentrated, listened carefully, and found that someone was running on the room, in order to avoid the exposure of her true identity, she chose to wait and see the changes and listen to the follow-up development.

There were two people who came, it was Fu Wei who was assigned by Commander Fu Wei to secretly protect Xu Doulian, because Shen Congrong's request was to monitor day and night, ensure safety, and detect abnormalities early, so Commander Fu Wei arranged four Fu Guards for each person, two in one shift, and one person reported if there was a problem, which did not affect the supervision of the other person, which could really meet Shen Congrong's requirements.

When the two Fu guards arrived at the roof of the second courtyard, they lay on the roof, using magic weapons to hide their figures, observing Xu Doulian and the surrounding situation.

Wen Xiuying in the house felt that they stopped on the roof of the second courtyard, and there was a fluctuation of spiritual power, and guessed that it was Fu Wei arranged by Shen Congrong.

"If you say it yourself, maybe I really don't dare to do it, but if you let these two little Fu Wei come over, can they still see through me?" Wen Xiuying smiled, stood up, and went out to the kitchen.

Wen Xiuying didn't hide her whereabouts, so she was discovered by Fu Wei as soon as she went out.

A Fu Wei glanced at Wen Xiuying and said, "A subordinate, there is no problem." ”

After speaking, they continued to observe Xu Doulian.

Wen Xiuying followed the path Xu Huai took her to the kitchen, lit the lights, looked for the ingredients, and found that there were white fungus, lotus seeds and rock sugar, which could be used to make white fungus lotus seed soup to help Xu Doulian relieve fatigue.

An hour later, Wen Xiuying took the prepared white fungus lotus seed soup, blew out the lights, and walked to the Sanjin Courtyard.

When she walked out of the kitchen door, she pretended to casually raise her eyes to look at Fu Wei lying on the roof of the second courtyard, and found that they didn't pay attention to her, so she sneered and became even more bold.

Walking to the Sanjin Courtyard with small steps, she found the study by using the light, and Wen Xiuying knocked on the door of the study.

"Who?" Xu Doulian said with a frown.

You must know that when he is working in the study at night, he doesn't like others to disturb him the most, and if someone comes without a valid reason, he will never spare anyone who dares to disturb him.

Wen Xiuying replied: "Wailang, it's me, Xiuying." ”

Hearing Wen Xiuying's voice, Xu Doulian thought of her breathtaking eyes, and most of the anger in her chest was dissipated.

Sighing helplessly, he said, "Come in." ”

With permission, Wen Xiuying pushed open the door of the study and walked in, closed the door after entering, and walked towards Xu Doulian's position with soup.

Xu Doulian, who had already picked up the file again, heard the voice of Wen Xiuying's movements and asked, "Miss Wen, is there something wrong with you coming here so late?"

Wen Xiuying put the soup on the table and said, "Xiuying is worried that the staff will not be able to bear it if they work so hard, so they made a bowl of white fungus lotus seed soup to help the staff relieve fatigue." ”

Xu Doulian raised his eyes and looked at the soup on the table, then looked back at the file and said, "Didn't Xu Huai tell Miss Wen that I didn't eat." ”

Wen Xiuying said: "Steward Xu told me, but I was worried about the health of the outsider, so I specially made soup." ”

Xu Doulian sighed a little impatiently and said, "I don't eat it." ”

"Oh. Wen Xiuying said in a low voice, looking very aggrieved, and reached out to serve the soup.

Xu Doulian glanced at Wen Xiuying and found a fiery red burn on Wen Xiuying's hand, and asked, "Wait, what's the matter with this wound on your hand?"

Wen Xiuying pulled her sleeves, covered the burns and said, "It's nothing." ”

Xu Doulian put down the file, took Wen Xiuying's hand, lifted his sleeves and looked at it, "This was burned when making soup?"

Wen Xiuying lowered her head, bit her lip and said, "I didn't notice that I was burned by the heat when I lifted the lid." ”

Looking at Wen Xiuying's pitiful appearance, Xu Doulian felt a little unbearable, let go of his hand and said, "Okay, leave the soup, and you can come back to get the soup bowl later." Now go to Xu Huai and ask him to take you to get the medicine and put it on it, and be careful in the future. ”

Withdrawing her hand, Wen Xiuying nodded with a red face and said, "Yes, Xiuying knows." ”

Wen Xiuying's appearance made Xu Doulian's heart skip a beat, and he couldn't help but want to pull Wen Xiuying into his arms, but under the vigilance of morality, he still endured it and said: "Go quickly, I'm afraid it will leave a scar later." ”

"Hmm. Wen Xiuying answered and trotted away.

was disturbed by Wen Xiuying like this, Xu Doulian didn't have the heart to continue reading the file, so he picked up the soup and drank a tablespoon.

"Huh? Not bad. Xu Doulian was a little surprised, and said in his heart: "I didn't expect her to really have a hand in cooking, at least this white fungus lotus seed soup is no worse than that of Meridian Tower." ”

After drinking the soup in the bowl in a few sips, Xu Doulian actually wanted to have another bowl.

Putting the bowl back on the tray, Xu Doulian shook his head with a smile, his mood calmed down, and he picked up the file again and continued to look at it.

Wen Xiuying walked out of the second courtyard and turned to the east across the courtyard, with a smile on the corner of her mouth when she turned her back to Fu Wei.

She was very sure that Xu Doulian had already begun to be influenced by herself, as long as she added a few more fires, she could directly take down Xu Doulian, and at that time, everything would be carried out smoothly.

The second entered the roof of the courtyard, watching Wen Xiuying leave, and a Fu Wei said, "Do you want to report this?"

The other said: "It shouldn't be necessary, she doesn't have anything abnormal, I'll talk about it when I see that he has a problem." ”

Wen Xiuying ran all the way to the East Cross Courtyard and knocked on Xu Huai's door.

Xu Huai arranged everything, and was just about to rest, when he heard a knock on the door, he put on his coat again and said, "It's here." ”

Opening the door and seeing Wen Xiuying standing at the door, Xu Huai asked, "Miss Wen, what's wrong?"

Wen Xiuying said: "I just boiled soup for Yuanwailang, and I accidentally burned my hand, and Yuanwailang asked me to find you and take me to get medicine." ”

Hearing Wen Xiuying say that she had boiled soup for Xu Doulian, Xu Doulian not only didn't scold her, but also asked him to take her to the pharmacy to get medicine to treat her burns, Xu Huai was quite surprised, and said in his heart: "What kind of personality has changed for Wailang, and he actually treats Miss Wen who just came to the house so carelessly?"

Although he was puzzled, Xu Huai didn't plan to ask more, who knows what his own member Wailang thinks.

"Okay, I see, come with me, I'll take you to the pharmacy. With that, Xu Huai closed the door and walked towards the pharmacy with Wen Xiuying.

On the way, Xu Huai said: "Be careful when cooking in the future, and try not to get hurt again." ”

Wen Xiuying said: "Well, the slave family will pay more attention in the future." ”

Xu Huai didn't say anything more, took Wen Xiuying to the pharmacy, found some white medicine for scalding and handed it to her, and said, "Take it back and apply it to the wound, wrap it in a clean hand towel, and it will be almost the same tomorrow." ”

After taking the white medicine, Wen Xiuying blessed and said, "Thank you Steward Xu." ”

Xu Huai said: "Thank you for not thanking you, go back and take medicine to rest, I have to get up early tomorrow to cook." ”

"Huh!" Wen Xiuying replied and ran back first.

Xu Huai looked at Wen Xiuying's back and shook his head, blew out the lights in the pharmacy, closed the door, and walked back slowly.

Back in her room, although Wen Xiuying could use her spiritual power to heal the burns, in order to carry out her plan and not attract Fu Wei's attention, she still applied the white medicine to the wound, took out a clean plain white hand towel and wrapped it, and then fell asleep like an ordinary person.

At the right time, the subordinates of the Xu Mansion began to be busy, because their own adults were about to leave home at the beginning of the year, and they had to prepare everything earlier.

Wen Xiuying had already woken up when Xu Huai walked to the door, and when Xu Huai knocked on the door, Wen Xiuying said in a slightly lazy voice that had just woken up: "It's here." ”

After getting dressed, opening the door of the house, and seeing Xu Huai standing outside the house, Wen Xiuying pretended to be a little sleepy and rubbed her eyes and said, "Steward Xu, is this already ugly?"

Xu Huai said: "Yes, they have already rushed to the kitchen, you can go with me quickly." ”

"Huh!" Wen Xiuying closed the door and followed Xu Huai to the kitchen.

On the way, Xu Huai said: "You shouldn't eat too much for breakfast, and you can't eat more meat, you just need to boil some porridge soup, steam some steamed buns, a few dim sum, and make some light side dishes." There is no set recipe in the house, you can make some dishes that you are good at, communicate more with another chef, and don't make two dishes in one dish. ”

"Okay, I got it. Wen Xiuying nodded and replied, indicating that she had written it down.

Looking at the handkerchief still wrapped around Wen Xiuying's hand, Xu Huai asked, "Is the burn on your hand better?"

Wen Xiuying said: "It's much better, it doesn't hurt anymore, and it doesn't affect your activities." ”

"That's good, the kitchen is here, you go cook first, I have other things to deal with, so I won't go in with you." When he arrived at the kitchen door, Xu Huai said that he had other things to deal with and said to Wen Xiuying.

"Okay, Steward Xu walks slowly. Wen Xiuying gave a salute and went into the kitchen.

As soon as I entered the kitchen, I saw a middle-aged woman carrying the stove and cleaning up vegetables.

"Hello, my name is Wen Xiuying, and I am a new cook in the house. Wen Xiuying said to the women who were busy working.

The woman wiped her sweat and said, "Oh, the new cook, that's great, you can share some of it, my name is Jin Yue'e, you can call me Sister Jin." There are no rules in our kitchen, that is, you don't eat too much meat at breakfast, you see what you are good at, just pick some dishes to cook. ”

"Okay, Sister Kim. Wen Xiuying responded with a smile and began to look for the dish she wanted to cook.

When Jin Yue'e walked next to Wen Xiuying to pick up the food, she saw the handkerchief in Wen Xiuying's hand and said, "What's wrong with Sister Wen's hand, wrapping the handkerchief, is it hurt?"

Wen Xiuying replied: "It's okay, it's just that I accidentally burned it, and after applying medicine, I can already move normally." ”

"Oh, in our kitchen, you have to be careful with the fire, the steamer, these things, if you get burned, not only will you suffer, but you will also delay cooking. Jin Yue'e reminded comfortingly.

Wen Xiuying replied with a smile: "Well, on the way here, Steward Xu also told me, and I remember it all in my heart." ”

After taking a few green vegetables, Jin Yue'e said: "You have a new injury on your hand, so let's slow down a little, you come to stir-fry vegetables, and I will do the heavy work of steaming steamed buns." ”

"Thank you, Sister Kim. Wen Xiuying thanked.

Jin Yue'e took the green vegetables and walked to the board and said, "Thank you, when your injury is healed, you can help me make steamed steamed buns." ”

"Hey, definitely. Wen Xiuying replied, and then walked to another board with the dishes she had already picked, and began to deal with them.

Looking at Wen Xiuying, who was quick with her hands and feet, Jin Yue'e nodded with satisfaction, and said in her heart: "This girl is really good, her hands and feet are nimble, and her work is good." ”

Half an hour and two quarters later, Xu Huai came to the kitchen.

"Is it all done, it's almost the beginning of the day, get up immediately, don't miss the hour. As soon as he entered the door, Xu Huai asked.

Putting the last dish on the tray, Wen Xiuying said, "It's all done, Steward Xu will see if it's enough." ”

Looking at the food that had been loaded on the tray, Xu Huai praised: "Yes, the dishes are rich, the color and fragrance are complete, and the taste will not be bad, you have worked hard, I will call someone to serve it away." ”

With that, Xu Huai left the kitchen and called someone.

After Xu Huai left, Jin Yue'e gave Wen Xiuying a thumbs up and said: "Sister Wen's craftsmanship is really good, these dishes you make, just smelling and looking at them will make people have an appetite, if anyone marries you, it will be really blessed." By the way, are you married, do you want the eldest sister to introduce you?"

Wen Xiuying lowered her head in shame and said cowardly: "What did Sister Jin say, it's embarrassing." ”

Jin Yue'e said with a smile: "A lifelong event, what's the shame, besides, it's just the two of us here." ”

Wen Xiuying turned around and stomped her feet and said, "Ignore you." ”

With that, he ran out of the kitchen.

Jin Yue'e smiled and said, "This big girl, I really don't know who I will give it cheaply." ”

Three into the courtyard hall, Xu Doulian, who had cleaned up, sat at the table, looked at the dishes on the table, felt his index finger move, picked up a chopstick and stuffed it into his mouth, the taste was very delicious.

After swallowing it, he asked Xu Huai, "This dish is made by the new cook?"

Xu Huai said: "Hui Wailang, yes." ”

"Nice, delicious. Xu Dou praised it and continued to eat.

Xu Huai stood aside, watching Xu Doulian eat all the food on the table, and said in his heart: "It seems that this Wen Xiuying really has a hand, and the dishes she makes can not only make the staff wailang so praised, but also let the staff eat all the food." ”

After rinsing his mouth with tea, Xu Doulian said: "The food is good, I'll come back to eat it in the evening." ”

Hearing Xu Doulian say that he was going to come back for dinner in the evening, Xu Huai was shocked, and then replied: "Yes, I will inform the kitchen." ”

"Hmm. Nodding, Xu Doulian put on his robe and went to the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry with the file.

Xu Huai cleaned up the plates on the table and asked his subordinates to take them to the kitchen.

Entering the kitchen, Xu Huai announced: "Wailang said, come back to the house for dinner tonight." ”

Then he deliberately said to Wen Xiuying: "Wailang is very praising your dishes, continue to work hard." ”

"Yes, I will. Wen Xiuying replied with a salute, a smile on the corner of her mouth.